Gifts for Him

At Country House Library we’ve made it easy to buy for the man in your life with a selection of wonderfully bookish gifts to satisfy even the hardest to please.

Son, brother, father, grandfather, uncle or friend, we’ve perused our shelves for the best in the written word and found something unique and special for the one-in-a-million Him!

Combine a love of classic cars with a love of classic books and this is the result. A hardback, pocket sized treasure with 11 colours and 49 black and white pictures of the A-Z of classic cars since 1945. Observer’s Books became one of the most successful prints of reference books in the English language and rare editions of the oldest issues (there have been over 800 in total) fetch high prices among avid collectors. A perennial obsession with the boys – sports cars and four-wheeled design icons will always be a winning gift. Have a look around the car showroom at Country House Library here . 

“No man or woman born, coward or brave, can shun his destiny.”

There’s nothing quite like the Greek myths and legends to attract the attention of the book-loving man, and this brand new foil stamped, clothbound publication by Penguin Classics is bound to fire the imagination. Homer’s Iliad centres on the Trojan Wars including such timeless stories of The Trojan Horse, Achilles Heel and the abduction of Queen Helen by the Trojan prince, Paris. Why not treat your favourite ‘Greek God’ with a pair of books by the most famous poets in Western literature, with Homer’s Iliadand The Odyssey. 

Browse all the new books in the Country House Library collection here. 

There aren’t many men who can resist a potter in the garden. Combine that with a modest building project such as a cold-frame, and it’ll keep him amused for hours! With some timber off-cuts and a spare pane of glass or clear plastic sheeting, a cold-frame is the perfect substitute for a conservatory or greenhouse. Fruit, vegetables, salads and herbs will all benefit from some concentrated sunshine and the extended growing season of a snug, homemade frame. This vintage edition by prolific gardening guru of his day, J. S. Dakers, will be a prize specimen in his growing library. Admire the complete collection of Country House Library’s gardening reference books here.

Space exploration and space tourism are universally in the news. The “ small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” is still as relevant today as it was back in Neil Armstrong’s time in 1969. This vintage Ladybird book will be a fascination for both the budding and armchair spacemen in the family, both in its subject matter and being from one of most famous reference publishers in the history of the world, Ladybird Book. First appearing in 1914, it was under the editorial stewardship of Douglas Keen who, in 1941 had the imagination to envisage factual books exciting enough in their illustrations to inspire children to learn, but so detailed and accurate that their parents could use them too. Blast off his collection of Ladybird classics here. And for all things interplanetary, go into orbit around this stellar collection at Country House Library. 

 Sports and pastimes have long been a fascination, not just of Englishman, but the international community of competitive menfolk. This vintage hardcover book from 1949 would be a trophy book in any gentleman’s collection of sporting literature or memorabilia. The award-winning author, Christina Hole, was described as the leading authority on English folk customs and culture. In a forty year writing career, Hole published close to twenty books, some of which can be found at the Country House Library here.

Let’s face it, they’re all boys at heart so what better way to raise a smile than with one of our vintage Boys annuals. This one includes action-packed stories, sports, illustrations and crafts including a section on pinhole photography! What more could he want for the Festive Season – hours of pleasure reliving his youth? Published by Juvenile Productions, this is just one of many retro albums for children on our bookshelves. Why not start a collection – see our complete range here.

 “Red wine with fish. Well that should have told me something…”

All the men like to think of themselves as James Bond; the looks, the easy charm, the subtle wit, that certain way with the ladies. Most of all, he’d love to own one of Q’s gadgets but why not buy him a selection of Ian Fleming’s vintage thrillers instead of an Aston Martin? To coincide with Bond’s latest escapades in the cinemas, this set including 007’s first outing inCasino Royale (1953), the fifth inFrom Russia with Love(1957) and the tenth inThe Spy who Loved Me(1962), would make the perfect gift. Spy on our complete collection of vintage James Bond novels here.

From our exclusive collection of book-lovers stationery, we’ve selected an elegant notebook and ballpoint pen which together make the perfect writing pair for the man who likes to while away the hours recording his innermost thoughts and musings. Inspired by the classic Idlermagazine, this blue and gold lined hardcover notebook with ribbon bookmark is the ideal gift for the man of letters. The black-ink, ballpoint pen is beautifully finished in the pattern adapted from Owen Jones' Grammar of Ornament from the V&A museum in London and is presented in a matching print gift box. Together with the notebook, this pair is a quietly understated, classic and thoughtful choice of gift. Browse the Country House Library complete range of stationery here. 

It’s a well-known fact that every man is an expert fisherman and will tell you the stories of how, in his younger days, he regularly hooked monster fish from the local river or lake with just a piece of string and a bent nail. This vintage classic hardback book from 1943, (written by the assistant keeper of natural history at the British Museum, R. J. Norman), describes in detail the habitat and lifestyle of all the major fish in Britain’s freshwater fisheries, and would make the perfect gift for any angler whether they’re never far from a rod and reel, or whether they prefer to demonstrate their casting technique from the armchair. Cast your line into our collection of vintage fishing books here.

SUMMARY

Whether its historic sport or classic sports-cars, or quieter pursuits such as gardening, angling and reading classic literature, the extensive bookshelves of Country House Library will have volumes for that extra special man to unwrap over the festive period. With something to suit all pockets and interests, start your festive shopping at Country House library.